California launched a legal effort to stop Sable Offshore Corp.’s restart of the Las Flores Pipeline System serving the offshore Santa Ynez Unit. The response to the recent restart of the pipeline system could signal an escalating conflict between California and the Trump administration over federal emergency powers and state environmental authority.
On March 16, 2026, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a motion in federal court seeking to prevent Sable from operating the pipeline, Politico reported. The motion came only days after the U.S. Department of Energy directed the company on March 13, 2026 to resume operations. Governor Gavin Newsom and Bonta had signaled imminent legal action following the federal order.
The federal directive, issued by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright under authority delegated through the Defense Production Act of 1950, requires Sable to prioritize restarting the pipeline system to support domestic energy supply. The administration framed the action in national security terms, citing risks to West Coast fuel availability.
Bonta called the federal order unlawful and warned that restarting the pipeline could pose significant environmental risks. Bonta filed the motion on behalf of the California Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Department of Parks and Recreation, according to Politico.
Sable has already begun transporting crude oil from the offshore Santa Ynez Unit through the Las Flores Pipeline System, which runs from Las Flores Canyon in Santa Barbara County to Pentland Station in Kern County. The company expects to begin selling crude oil by April 1, 2026.
Trespassing Claim Filed
California has also filed a separate lawsuit in Santa Barbara County Superior Court targeting Sable’s use of pipeline infrastructure that crosses Gaviota State Park, E&E News reported. Bonta alleges that the company resumed operations without required state authorization and is trespassing on state property. The state is seeking a court order requiring Sable to stop pipeline operations and remove infrastructure from park land.
Injunction Upheld
Additionally, on March 17, 2026, a Santa Barbara County judge upheld a July 2025 preliminary injunction against the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) that requires Sable to provide advance notice before restarting onshore pipeline operations. Environmental groups involved in the case argue that the restart violates the injunction and poses ongoing spill risks along the Santa Barbara coastline.
The injunction is part of a 2024 suit that environmental groups filed against the OSFM, arguing that the fire marshal did not comply with environmental review and pipeline safety laws before issuing the waivers for the pipeline.
Further court proceedings are scheduled for April 17.
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